James Meredith, First Black Student Admitted to the University of Mississippi Asks: “Is the Black Christian Church Fulfilling It’s Mission?”

James Meredith, the man who broke the color barrier at the University of Mississippi, is headed to Massachusetts to be recognized by one of the most prestigious colleges in the country.

In just a few weeks Meredith will not only speak at the convocation for the Harvard Graduate School of Education – he will also accept “The Medal for Education Impact” which honors people who have made a lasting difference in education.

In 1962, Meredith was the first black student admitted to Ole Miss.

In a statement Kathleen McCartney, the Dean of Harvard’s Graduate School of Education, said “He forced America to look in the mirror and become a better nation. Fifty years later, he is still working to address inequality in America’s school”.

During a Sunday interview with WJTV, Meredith start the discussion like every interview – by insisting on reading a speech.

It’s called “God’s Message for our Time” and Meredith wrote it himself.

It’s purpose is to literally preach to the choir. He says he does believe that most black Christians in Mississippi are sincere believers…

“But also most do not practice what they know and the real problem with training up our children is that the kingdom of God has been taken out of the process,” Meredith said.

This is the main point Meredith plans to stress during his time at Harvard university: that young, poor children need community support especially from churches.

“What any human being can do in life depends upon the foundation laid between birth and age five. And we are literally doing nothing. In fact, in Mississippi, we are guilty of doing worse than even nothing,” Meredith said.